Srinagar: Transporters in Kashmir will meet on Tuesday to decide on whether and when to resume public transport in Kashmir, which had remained off the roads since August 5, when GoI announced abrogation of J&K’s special status.
The sector has faced huge losses for the past three months impacting livelihood of thousands of families.
Chairman, All Kashmir Transporter Welfare Association, Shabir Ahmad Matt told Kashmir Reader that the body will decide on what the transport community has to do keeping in view losses faced by the sector, and inconvenience caused to public due to lack of transport.
“We met today (Sunday). It was decided that we will meet on Tuesday again in which all the heads of various sections of transport community will participate to mutually decide future course of action,” he added.
The lockdown in Kashmir for the last three months had drastically impacted all the sectors, among which public transport is the worst hit.
While several other trades have resumed partially, carrying out limited activities for a few hours, the public transport has remained completely shut. The sector loses Rs 15 lakh on each shut day.
The loss had forced people associated with the sector, especially drivers and conductors to look for alternatives to make ends meet.
Some worked as labourers in construction works, others put up stalls and carts selling perishables, clothes, and toys on carts at flea markets.
“We have to decide whether we have to operate or not? Identify the modalities for resumption in case we decide to so. Nothing is decided as of now,” Matt said.
There are some 2700 mini buses, which cater to intra district movement, and 850 big buses which operate at inter district level, according to Matta.
Sheikh Ashiq, President of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that there are 50000 commercial vehicles which have been hit by the shutdown.

Junaid Nabi Bazaz